Method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving multicast data in social networks

Abstract

A method of transmitting first content from a first host to a second host in a data network using a social network site in the data network, the first host identifiable by a first IP address. According to one implementation the method involves receiving in the social network site a first unicast message from the first host related to a transmission of the first content from the first host, the first unicast message including the first IP address and a multicast group address to be used in the transmission of the first content. Upon or after the social network site determining that a social relationship exists between the first host and the second host the social network site sends a second unicast message to the second host indicating that the first host has or will initiate a transmission of the first content. The second unicast message includes the first IP address and the multicast group address in a form useable by the second host to request and receive via the data network the first content in the form of multicast packets.

1 . A method of transmitting first content from a first host to a second host in a data network using a social network site in the data network, the first host identifiable by a first IP address, the method comprising:
 receiving in the social network site a first unicast message from the first host related to a transmission of the first content from the first host, the first unicast message comprising the first IP address and a multicast group address to be used in the transmission of the first content;   the social network site determining that a social relationship exists between the first host and the second host; and   after determining that a social relationship exists between the first host and the second host the social network site sending a second unicast message to the second host indicating that the first host has or will initiate a transmission of the first content, the second unicast message comprising the first IP address and the multicast group address in a form useable by the second host to request and receive via the data network the first content in the form of multicast packets.   
     
     
         2 . A method of transmitting first content from a first host to a second host in a data network using a social network site in the data network, the first host identifiable by a first IP address, the method comprising:
 receiving in the social network site a first unicast message from the first host related to a transmission of the first content from the first host, the first unicast message comprising the first IP address;   the social network site determining that a social relationship exists between the first host and the second host;   the social network site selecting a multicast group address for the transmission of the first content and sending to the first host information about the multicast group address; and   after determining that a social relationship exists between the first host and the second host the social network site sending a second unicast message to the second host indicating that the first host has or will initiate a transmission of the first content, the second unicast message comprising the first IP address and the selected multicast group address.   
     
     
         3 . A method of transmitting first content from a first host to a second host in a data network using a social network site in the data network, the first host identifiable by a first IP address, the method comprising:
 receiving in the social network site a first unicast message from the first host related to a transmission of the first content from the first host, the first unicast message comprising the first IP address;   the social network site determining that a social relationship exists between the first host and the second host;   after determining that a social relationship exists between the first host and the second host the social network site selecting a multicast group address for the transmission of the first content and sending to the first host information about the multicast group address; and   after determining that a social relationship exists between the first host and the second host and selecting the multicast group address the social network site sending a second unicast message to the second host indicating that the first host has or will initiate a transmission of the first content, the second unicast message comprising the first IP address and the selected multicast group address.   
     
     
         4 . A method of transmitting first content from a first host to a second host in a data network using a social network site in the data network, the first host identifiable by a first IP address, the method comprising:
 receiving in the social network site a first unicast message from the first host related to a transmission of the first content from the first host, the first unicast message comprising the first IP address;   the social network site determining that a social relationship exists between the first host and the second host;   the social network site selecting a multicast group address for the transmission of the first content and sending to the first host information about the multicast group address;   after determining that a social relationship exists between the first host and the second host the social network site sending a second unicast message to the second host indicating that the first host has or will initiate a transmission of the first content, the second unicast message comprising a selected source IP address and the selected multicast group address;   receiving in the social network site the first content in the form of unicast packets; and   transmitting from the social network site to a router in the data network that is accessible by the second host the first content in the form of multicast packets using the selected source IP address and the selected multicast group address.   
     
     
         5 . A method of transmitting first content from a first host to a second host in a data network using a social network site in the data network, the first host identifiable by a first IP address, the method comprising:
 receiving in the social network site a first unicast message from the first host related to a transmission of the first content from the first host, the first unicast message comprising the first IP address;   the social network site determining that a social relationship exists between the first host and the second host;   after determining that a social relationship exists between the first host and the second host the social network site selecting a multicast group address for the transmission of the first content and sending to the first host information about the multicast group address;   upon or after the social network site sending to the first host information about the multicast group to be used in the transmission of the first content, the social network site sending a second unicast message to the second host indicating that the first host has or will initiate a transmission of the first content, the second unicast message comprising a selected source IP address and the selected multicast group;   receiving in the social network site the first content in the form of unicast packets;   transmitting from the social network site to a router in the data network that is accessible by the second host the first content in the form of multicast packets using the selected source IP address and the selected multicast group address.   
     
     
         6 . A method of transmitting first content from a first host to a second host in a data network using a social network site in the data network, the first host identifiable by a first IP address, the method comprising:
 receiving in the social network site a first unicast message from the first host related to a transmission of the first content from the first host, the first unicast message comprising the first IP address and a multicast group address to be used in the transmission of the first content;   the social network site determining that a social relationship exists between the first host and the second host;   after determining that a social relationship exists between the first host and the second host the social network site sending a second unicast message to the second host indicating that the first host has or will initiate a transmission of the first content, the second unicast message comprising a selected source IP address and the multicast group address;   receiving in the social network site the first content in the form of unicast packets;   transmitting from the social network site to a router in the data network that is accessible by the second host the first content in the form of multicast packets using the selected source IP address and the selected multicast group address.   
     
     
         7 . A method of transmitting multicast packets from a first host to a second host in a data network using a social network site in the data network, the first host identifiable by a first IP address, the method comprising:
 receiving in the social network site a first unicast message from the first host related to a transmission of the first content from the first host, the first unicast message comprising a second IP address and a multicast group address to be used in the transmission of the first content;   the social network site determining that a social relationship exists between the first host and the second host;   after determining that a social relationship exists between the first host and the second host receiving in the social network site from the first host encapsulated unicast packets comprising the multicast packets;   after determining that a social relationship exists between the first host and the second host the social network site sending a second unicast message to the second host indicating that the first host has or will initiate a transmission of the first content, the second unicast message comprising the second IP address and the multicast group; and   the social network site removing the encapsulation of the unicast packets comprising the multicast packets and transmitting the multicast packets from the social network site to a router in the data network using the second IP address as source address of the multicast IP packets and the selected multicast group as destination IP address of the multicast IP packets.   
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 7 , wherein the first host receives from the social network site the second IP address.